Memphis Tigers get 19 points from Adonis Thomas to beat UAB Blazers

U of M wins 6th straight

Jason Smith

11:29 PM, Jan 12, 2013

11:44 PM, Jan 12, 2013

Memphis’ D.J. Stephens, who had four points and a career-high six blocked shots Saturday night, is fouled while guarded by Blazers Rod Rucker (left) and Robert Williams during the first half in Birmingham, Ala.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — University of Memphis sophomore forward Adonis Thomas probably wishes Saturday night wasn't the last time the Tigers played at UAB's Bartow Arena as a member of Conference USA.

Having struggled with his consistency, Thomas turned in his best all-around performance of the season Saturday, scoring a career-high-tying 19 points and grabbing nine rebounds in a 69-53 win over the Blazers.

A season ago, Thomas went 7 of 8 from the field in a three-point win over UAB at Bartow Arena. On Saturday, he went 9 of 15 from the field in 34 minutes in a game that wasn't nearly as close as the previous three between the teams in this building, which had been decided by a combined 11 points.

"I wanted to continue to be aggressive, continue to attack the paint and continue to get open shots," Thomas said. "My teammates found me early in the game and got me going."

Joe Jackson had 17 points — his 11th straight game in double figures — and five assists and Memphis won its sixth straight game since a nine-point loss to nationally ranked Louisville last month.

The Tigers were never really threatened by an overmatched UAB team that went for the second straight game without making a 3-pointer. Before the Blazers' 64-48 road loss to Central Florida on Wednesday, the Blazers had made a 3-pointer in 537 straight games going back to 1996. On Saturday, they went 0 of 13.

In the meantime, Memphis (12-3, 2-0 Conference USA) was clicking on offense save for a seven-minute stretch in the first half in which the Tigers allowed UAB to make it a two-point game (19-17).

But the Tigers, sparked by Jackson and senior forward D.J. Stephens (four points, career-high six blocked shots), outscored the Blazers 15-3 over the final four minutes of the first half to take a 34-20 lead into halftime.

It was Memphis' seventh straight win at Bartow Arena and 14th consecutive win in the series.

Junior forward Tarik Black added 10 points and a career-high-tying 13 rebounds off the bench in his second game back from a groin injury. Freshman Shaq Goodwin added 10 points and three rebounds as Memphis looked much sharper than it had in blowing a 27-point lead against East Carolina on Wednesday.

"I was really proud of Tarik Black. Thirteen boards and 8 of 10 from the free-throw line. Really proud of him for that stat," Memphis coach Josh Pastner said.

UAB was led by junior forward Rod Rucker's 16 points and 11 rebounds. The Blazers had been 7-0 at Bartow Arena this season, but Memphis simply outclassed them — something it should do on most nights in this league.

As the game turned

UAB trailed 19-17 and appeared to have Memphis confused for a seven-minute stretch in the first half using its zone defense. But the Tigers eventually found the holes as Jackson scored six points during a 15-3 Memphis run to close out the half. Unable to knock down 3-pointers, UAB never seriously threatened the Tigers the rest of the way.

Rim gems

Stephens was a human fly swatter against Rucker, who had his seventh double-double of the season but went just 6 of 21 from the field. Stephens is averaging 4.7 blocks over the last three contests. He was injured in the second half, suffering what he called a stinger in his right arm, but he returned and played 24 minutes.

Who's hot? Who's not?

Thomas looked like the player most experts had pegged as a first-round NBA draft pick this preseason. Though he was as smooth as he has been all season offensively, his season-high nine rebounds were the best news for Memphis, which needs the 6-7, 240-pounder to be a constant threat on the glass. As for who wasn't hot, Memphis' entire team struggled from 3-point range, going 1 of 12. Still, the Tigers went 23 of 37 (62.1 percent) inside the arc.

Locker room chatter

"He told me to sit down and I said, 'No, you sit down.' I said, 'If you stand, then why can't I stand?' At the end there I told him, 'I apologize,' and he gave me a thumbs-up, so it was nothing more than that." - Pastner on his back-and-forth with a UAB fan behind him.

Odds and ends

Saturday's game was the fourth and final Bartow Classic since Memphis is headed to the Big East next season. The event pays tribute to longtime UAB coach and athletic director Gene Bartow, the former Memphis State coach who died last January of stomach cancer. Proceeds from each ticket sold for the game will be donated to the Coach Gene Bartow Fund For Cancer Research. ... Black's eight free throws were a career high.

By the numbers

0: 3-pointers made by UAB

22: Combined rebounds for Thomas and Black

58.8: Tigers' shooting percentage in the second half

Got next

Memphis travels to Houston for a 6 p.m. game Wednesday at Rice (3-12, 0-2).